jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The oil burner guy just left after doing the annual cleaning. He said our thirty-year old furnace will have to be replaced sooner rather than later - for around $6,000! When we put in the "new" one in 1987, it was costly, but not shocking, and we could afford it. Now, spending $6,000 is out of the question. We heat with wood, and the furnace is for hot water, so it's not critical. Maybe I can buy one online and install it myself.

Skiextreme2 Loc: Northwest MA

Why not just get a good hot water heater? For any emergency heating, maybe a propane heater...

If you want to get an actual furnace and install it yourself, check your local building codes to see if it's allowed.

twowindsbear

Contact Ask This Old House. Maybe they'll help and you'll be on TV. Good luck!

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

Jerry - My sister just had an "on-demand electric water heater" installed for her hot water. It was the cheapest, easiest alternative she could find and she's real happy with it. For her house she has a fairly large central unit to feed her kitchen and bathrooms but another friend just has little on-demand units that fit in the vanity, under the sinks (not sure what you do for the shower/tub). Even though you heat with wood, you have to have a "real" heating system (elec., oil, gas) if you go to sell the house, don't you?

Paladin48 Loc: Orlando

What could go wrong? As my wife would say ... "Famous last words!!!"

Paladin48 Loc: Orlando

Maybe an On Demand Water Heater. Very efficient

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

Good luck with that.

I’d get a second estimate.

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

There are alternatives - Tankless on demand heaters are great. You may want to look into passive solar to supplement your hot water. The oil burner is a dinosaur of tech these days. Do you have natural gas to the house or are you on propane?

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I replaced a furnace from the '50s about 6-7 years ago. The old furnace was about 4'x4'x3' with a lot of cast iron. The new one was about 18"x18"x12". The old one also supplied hot water originally but we put a separate water heater in about 25 years ago. The furnace water heater would give about 3-4 gallons of nice hot water for a shower, after which the water temperature would drop about 20 degrees (or so it felt) while the furnace tried to heat the flowing water to the shower. The separate hot water heater delivered a constant temperature for 30 gallons, plenty for a reasonable shower.

After about 15-20 years the water heater gave out. I priced a few at the local Home Depot or Lowes (don't remember which, but they were probably about the same). They had a cheap water heater for $300 with a 5 year warranty, a $400 model with a 10 year warranty and a $500 model with a 15 year warranty (numbers approximate, given my aging memory). I asked a friend who does plumbing and heating for a recommendation. He told me that they were all the same water heater. The cost difference is for insurance.

PS: I replaced the water heater myself. I cut out the old water heater and installed hose connections on the stubs of pipe. I put hose connections on the water heater. I used laundry hoses to connect the hot and cold ports to the water heater. When it's time to put in a new water heater, I just have to replace the water heater. No plumbing required. Just switch it over with the hoses. (The only caveat there is that the laundry hoses are slightly smaller than the 3/4" pipe I had on the old water heater so the flow is not quite as good. Plenty for the shower, however.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That sounds like fun.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Thanks. Sounds like a good idea.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

A friend had one installed a little over a year ago, and it cost a bit over $5,000.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

On-demand sounds like a good idea. I'll look into that. The furnace is working fine, and I'm hoping that after the service, it will go back to using less oil. I'll find out next month when we get another delivery.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I know what you mean.

dragonfist Loc: Stafford, N.Y.

I think if I were you I would look into propane or natural gas if it is available Jerry. I just put in a new propane furnace and A/C unit for about $5800 installed. I do believe gas furnaces are less expensive than oil but that is something you would have to check out.